Strictly '22 #18 — Who's going to lift the glitterball? We don't know, but it will happen in this thread!

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

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We're moving so fast I'm setting this one up to be ready!

The only decent CC I can think of Fay Tozer's

I think the last time they did the 2 part final, eliminating the 4th place contestant before the show dances, was either the Mark Wright year or the year Anton got to the final with Radio 3 Katie.

I think the year Sophie Ellis-Bextor was on it she went out in fourth place then there was the 3 couple final, as you describe.

Oh, don't! I'm still bitter that she didn't get to perform her Charleston again and she was all dressed up to do it when she was voted off.

I'm very happy Hamza won. I didn't understand the praise Helen got for that final dance at all. Just looked like a lot of posing and very little else. I'm not interested in her back story, or any of the other sob stories for that matter, they tend to put me off voting for people if anything. Keep your problems to yourself, it's a light entertainment programme for goodness sake. Harsh, I know!

Who do you think the judges wanted to win? Even though they always praised Hamza, none of them looked that happy when his name was announced.

I think the judges wanted Fleur to win.

I voted for Hamza five times and my son was so excited that he won.. I know he wasn’t the best dancer in the technical sense tonight, but I found him by far the most watchable of all the dancers this year. He really brought something special to his dances and really deserved to win.

Yes, I reckon the judges wanted Fleur to win as they scored her the highest I think.

I think Craig wanted Helen to win - he said her final dance was a dance to win the final. I must admit I thought so too, even though all series I've not cared much for Helen.

I think you're right. Though they can't really have expected it, given how many times she was in the bottom two (even for the semi-finals) - she didn't have the audience support, no matter how well she danced.

That was a real disappointment. Hamza was nowhere as good as any of the female finalists. Really disappointing and underwhelming show dance.

I thought Fleur and Helen were best tonight.

Hamza has been constantly overmarked this whole series.

Yes, good point. I had forgotten he said that.

I voted for Fleur for the first time last week, and Mollie. Always have voted for Helen. I really thought Mollie deserved to win but tonight gave all my votes to Fleur. I didn’t actually expect Fleur or Mollie to win though as being in the dance-off has proved that they are not as popular with the public. I imagine Mollie, Fleur and Helen will use their dance skills to now further their careers. Theatre shows that require some dance perhaps. I can’t see Hamza doing that but it has certainly raised his profile. What a lovely man.

Yes I agree with this.

My OH was convinced there was a huge push for Fleur to win on this show by the judges and on TV and radio. He decided he would vote Hamza as he liked his dancing and wasn't going to be told how to vote 🤦‍♀️

I think the judges were dicks to be honest. It is a public vote and if they can't crack a smile when the public choose someone who isn't their favourite, it makes me wonder how fixed the scoring is sometimes. Hamza cocked up his arm in the SD at the beginning, but Helen didn't do great and was out of time and Mollys was very stilted. Scoring 3 less was a bit hmmm. 🤔

The show dances were crap tonight. Three dances is too much. I prefer the showdances with more AS and theatre elements.

I imagine Mollie, Fleur and Helen will use their dance skills to now further their careers.

I think Molly has probably got what she wanted out of doing Strictly and will go into musical theatre. Fleur... maybe? Helen, no. I don't think she's interested.

I think the judges actually wanted Hamza to win but he didn't do well on the night and there was no way they could have given him high scores. So they gave them to the technically best dancer. Even if sue wasn't going to win.

I love Strictly but the only element I can't stand is the audience 'participation' when they insist in clapping along with the music.

I didn't notice any of that tonight, not sure if the chosen music didn't lend itself to it or whether they were warned against it.

Whatever, it increased my enjoyment. That, and Hamza winning for all the reasons others have already said - joyous and joyful non-dancer.

Fleur - stompy tonight, frequently inelegant throughout the series
Mollie - stage school overconfident brat with a grating voice
Helen - sour faced, trained tap dancer, persistent and irritating use of a tiny violin in an attempt to manipulate,

FWIW, my (literal) money was on Kym Marsh from the start, and her AT was a masterpiece. However, I'm delighted for Hamza.

Lovely to see Tyler again. He should have gone further.

I loved that final! Except for one of Mollie’s dances and the final one of Helen’s (which I cannot see the appeal in as so much not dancing going on and just a bit odd).

I wanted Fleur to win or if not her, Hamza. I felt so much more connection through the screen with them and they both made me stop mindlessly scrolling on my phone (terrible habit). I expected Helen to win based on her getting to go last and the judges comments.

How do you mean "odd"?

I've not been watching until tonight (in COVID isolation) and I thought Hamza was great. He sort of embraced and exhuded the fun of dancing whereas the others were more performers. I can see why the judges thought one thing and the public something else.

Hamza made me think I might actually be able to give dancing a go.

Did anyone find tonights silver foil dress a reminder of Brenden and Lisa and the awful turkey foil showdance? Back from the (short, thank goodness) era of attempts at more acrobatic showdances? I must search you tube for it!

As in quirky and not very dancy. Maybe also because of the way it involved looking directly at the camera. I know I’m in the minority as it was raved about but I really disliked it!

For me, Hamza didn't win the night but he won the series overall. He just has that natural ability to dance which I admire.

Bad sportsmanship from Gorka. I was well fed up with the constant references to Helen's back story. They even wheeled the big guns out with the children 'Love you Mummy' and all that. Naked ambition. Vom.

I'm with you on that one. I said after Helen and Gorka performed it the first time, that it was very well styled but ultimately it seemed thin on actual dance content. When it ended, I just thought, was that it?

So no surprises that Hamza won. Disappointed at Gorka being visibly annoyed that he and Helen didn't win. Vito and Fleur on the other hand looked proud as punch for them.

I can't say any of them particularly wowed me tonight, but I thought Fleur's showdance looked the best out of all of them. Mollie and Carlos should have ditched the fetish gloves, as I hated it before they even danced a step!